In a big infrastructure drive to enhance pilgrim connectivity to Kedarnath Dham, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is set to build a 7-kilometre-long tunnel in Uttarakhand. The tunnel will link Chaumasi village in Kalimath Valley with Lincholi, which is just 5 km from the Kedarnath temple. If the proposal goes through, the faithful will have two access roads to the revered shrine, a safer, all-weather one among them.
Nowadays, pilgrims have to walk 16 km between Gaurikund and Kedarnath through Rambara and Lincholi. After the tunnel is constructed, the walking distance will be minimized to a mere 5 km, significantly relaxing the arduousness of the pilgrimage.
Tunnel Seeks to Improve Safety and Shorten Distance
The government has embarked on this new path to Kedarnath after learning from the horrifying floods of 2013 and the July 2024 catastrophe. Already, a preliminary survey has been done by consultants, and the drawing of the tunnel is being completed by a central team.
The tunnel will be constructed at an elevation of 6,562 feet and will originate at Chaumasi, accessible by road via a pucca road, and terminate at Lincholi. From there, a 5-km walking path would take the pilgrims directly to the temple.
“Consultants have conducted the survey and submitted the tunnel project design. A central team is working out the plan,” Mukesh Parmar, Chief Engineer, National Highways, Uttarakhand, said.
Current vs Future Route
Currently, the hike from Gaurikund to Kedarnath is broken down as follows:
- Gaurikund to Rambara: 9 km
- Rambara to Lincholi: 2 km
- Lincholi to Kedarnath: 5 km
The new route will pass through Kund (on Rudraprayag-Gaurikund highway) to Chaumasi through Chunni Band, Kalimath, and Kotma. From Chaumasi, the 7-km tunnel will bring pilgrims to Lincholi and then the current 5-km road to the temple.
New Route Evades Landslide Areas
The new alignment is a safer one since it will skirt every main area of the landslide. Authorities report that the tunnel will be excavated through solid rock, and the route can be constructed above or below meadows (bugyals). There are areas with underground water seepage, but engineers opine that this would be controlled with a proper drainage system.
Earlier, plans to construct the tunnel from Rambara were discussed, but geological instability in the area prompted authorities to change their plan.
Ropeway Project Too Approved for Kedarnath and Hemkund Sahib
The Centre has also sanctioned a ropeway scheme between Sonprayag and Kedarnath (12.9 km) and Govindghat and Hemkund Sahib (12.4 km). The ropeway, as part of the National Ropeway Development Programme, will reduce the 8-9 hour ride to 36 minutes. The cabin would carry 36 people. National Highway Logistics Management would implement this project.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed, “The travel time that is now eight to nine hours will come down to 36 minutes.”
While the new path assures safety and convenience, spiritual gurus and environmentalists fear that such projects may reduce the spiritual atmosphere of Kedarnath. The tough climb has always been viewed as a gesture of devotion. Sanitizing and shortening the journey, critics say, might dilute the sacredness of the experience.
Ecological Fragility at Risk
The Kedarnath valley is an ecologically sensitive area. Heavy construction, ropeways, and tunnels can disrupt the area’s delicate ecosystem. Experts have predicted that more human activity and infrastructure would destabilize local biodiversity and inflict long-term harm.
For generations, the pilgrimage to Kedarnath has been a test of religious faith and physical strength. The new facilities will bring more pilgrims, but at the expense of the traditional values of pilgrimage. Finding a balance between spiritual heritage and contemporary safety is the challenge for the future.
